The Nigerian Navy has once again demonstrated its readiness and swift response in safeguarding lives at sea, as personnel of Forward Operating Base (FOB) IBAKA successfully rescued ten crew members from a distressed vessel, MV SEMA III, off Calabar waters on Friday, 7 November 2025.
According to a statement by Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, the vessel, which was en route from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, to Calabar, sent a distress call around 2000 hours. In response, a naval gunboat equipped with a submersible pump was immediately dispatched to the location.
Upon arrival, the naval team discovered that the vessel was rapidly taking in water. The personnel swiftly evacuated all ten crew members — comprising one Cameroonian, one Equatorial Guinean, and eight Nigerians. The rescued individuals were safely received, debriefed, and provided with care at FOB IBAKA until Saturday, 8 November 2025.
The Master of MV SEMA III expressed deep appreciation to the Nigerian Navy for its prompt intervention and professionalism, noting that the swift response averted a potential tragedy at sea.
Commodore Adams-Aliu noted that the successful rescue operation underscores the Nigerian Navy’s commitment, under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal), to ensuring maritime safety, securing Nigeria’s territorial waters, and promoting lawful economic activities within the nation’s maritime domain.
He reaffirmed that the Navy remains resolute in its mission to protect lives and safeguard critical national assets in line with its constitutional mandate.